Inside The $5 Million TBM 960 Plane

0:00 - Intro
Daher took the wraps off its latest-generation TBM turboprop single—the TBM 960—on April 5 at the 2022 Sun ’n Fun Aerospace Expo in Lakeland, Florida, where it also displayed the first production example. Here is everything you need to know about the Daher TBM 960. Stay with us till the end to learn more about this exciting aircraft.

1:22 - Interior
An optional Prestige cabin package ups the price to about $4.8 million and adds a new environmental control system, LED ambience lighting, and electronically-dimmable windows. This premium cabin also includes a passenger comfort display for control of the environmental control system, LED ambience strip lighting integrated into both sides of the overhead ceiling panel, and dimmable windows, as well as other enhancements such as new ergonomically enhanced seats, USB-A and -C power plugs, cupholders, and headset hangers at each of the airplane’s six seats.

2:11 - Cockpit
With its G3000 integrated flight deck, the TBM 960 retains Daher’s e-copilot and safety systems found in other TBM models. This includes an icing protection system, flight envelope monitoring through the Electronic Stability and Protection and the Under-speed Protection systems, the Emergency Descent Mode function, as well as the HomeSafe emergency autoland system.
New to the TBM 960 is the Garmin GWX 8000 doppler weather radar with surveillance features like lightning and hail prediction, turbulence detection, zero blind range for close-in returns, and ground clutter suppression. It is also the first application for the Garmin GDL 60 flight parameter recorder with a 4G WiFi transceiver,
which allows automatic database uploads and links with mobile devices. FADEC (full authority digital engine control) is another new feature incorporated into the TBM 960. A single power lever—Daher calls it an “E-throttle”—controls the engine and propeller, and automatically prevents the engine from exceeding temperature limits. Yet another new system automates the start sequence.

3:32 - Engine
Topping the list of the big improvements is the TBM 960’s engine, a Pratt & Whitney PT6E-66XT rated for 1,844 shaft horsepower in thermodynamic power terms, and derated to 850 shaft horsepower like predecessor designs. This allows more power with lower internal temperatures at higher cruise altitudes. The new engine comes with a 5,000-hour overhaul interval, and hot section inspections required between 2,000 and 3,000 hours.
Daher explains that the intelligent PT6E-66XT powerplant and Hartzell Propeller’s five-blade Raptor composite propeller are the heart of the TBM 960, both of which are linked to the dual-channel digital Engine and Propeller Electronic Control System
According to Daher, the PT6E-66XT’s startup is fully automated after a single-switch activation. Further, the e-throttle power lever uses a single forward position from takeoff to landing, with the dual-channel digital engine and propeller electronic control system optimizing powerplant performance throughout the flight envelope, reducing pilot workload, and increasing the engine life.
Fully integrated into the propulsion system, a new 1,925-rpm five-blade composite-construction Hartzell Raptor propeller is specifically designed to reduce overall weight and improve the TBM 960’s takeoff distance, climb, and cruise speed, in addition to limiting noise and vibration.
FADEC (full authority digital engine control) is another new feature incorporated into the TBM 960. A single power lever—Daher calls it an “E-throttle”—controls the engine and propeller, and automatically prevents the engine from exceeding temperature limits.

6:15 - Performance
Performance is roughly the same as the 940, including a top speed of 330 knots or 661 kilometers per hour at FL280 and max range of 1,730 nautical miles or 3,200 kilometers at 252 knots. At Daher’s recommended cruise setting of 308 knots, the fuel consumption is only 57 U.S. gallons or 216 liters per hour. The Model 960 does have a 221-pound or 100-kilogram increase in maximum take-off weight to 7,615 pounds or 3,450 kilograms, to help offset the 140-pound or 63-kilogram heavier Prestige interior.

7:03 - Launch Date and Price
Deliveries of the TBM 960 are set to begin in the first half of 2022. While the price for the standard TBM 960 is approximately 4.6 million dollars, an optional Prestige cabin package ups the price to about 4.8 million dollars, with an anticipated increase to $5 million for the 2023 model year.

7:48 - Outro

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